Passing on career excitement: developing a work force through mentoring programs.

• Author: Agosti-Gisler, Tam
• Position: EDUCATION

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The need for work force development is on the lips of many Alaska employers, economists and government leaders. How are Wells Fargo, Siemens Building Technologies, or hundreds of other businesses and organizations doing more than just repeating the mantra?

Look no further than the "Bank Within East," a school/business partnership between Wells Fargo and East High, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in November. With the support of Wells Fargo (initially National Bank of Alaska) and the dedication of East High business teacher Trudy Keller, hundreds of student tellers have developed banking skills that led them directly to financial careers with local, state and national banks--not just with Wells Fargo. Other students have pursued accounting careers as a result of their experience in the school's bank and some cite their financial savvy to lessons learned in the class.

Additionally, the "Bank Within East" has inspired other local high schools to implement similar programs. A partnership between Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union and Chugiak High School created the Mustang Co-Op, which opened in November 2006 and is operated by students. Credit Union 1 and West High School are working on opening a cyber-branch staffed by students in the upcoming school year.

Leverette Hoover, Siemens' general manager for Alaska operations, has been struggling to find engineers to fill many positions. He knew his company had better start to "grow its own." Therefore, Siemens has been the school/business partnership champion for the Engineering House that will open this fall at Dimond High School with 50-plus students. Capacity is expected to triple in the next three years. Teachers in the Engineering House have received training and support in the nationally recognized "Project Lead the Way" curriculum through giants provided or procured by Siemens. Students who sign up for the Engineering House will take engineering electives, common core classes with an engineering bent and participate in mentorships with local architectural and engineering companies, many of whom participate on the Engineering House Advisory Council.

Hoover is also aware of the research that shows many students begin to "deselect" careers in fields for which they've had no positive exposure by the fourth grade. He understands that waiting to begin career exploration at the middle or high school level is too late for many students. In a proactive stroke of...